Traditional Chinese Stories

[Leaf]

Hey! This is completely because I'm bored. There are several classic Chinese fables (or other stories) that are either based on myths or true events and not only are they interesting stories, but they also are the origin of several Chinese proverbs. I'm just here to provide an interesting read, so whether you want to learn about more ancient Chinese history or culture, want to get a different taste of fables besides those in Western culture, or if you just want to read some pretty good traditional (short) stories, I hope you enjoy!

[Leaf]

Waiting at the Tree for the Rabbit

A long time ago, there was a poor farmer who worked at his fields diligently. Everyday, he would work from sun up to sun down. However, while he was working, he was always dreaming about becoming rich someday by a miracle and he wouldn't have a care in the world. Well, too bad. This was reality. Work, dirt, work, sun, eat, did I mention work?

These monotonous days continued for an extremely long time, and while the work was hard, the farmer could earn a living off the land. He had enough money for himself, but he still dreamed of a miracle that would make his life better.

One day, a rabbit came out of nowhere and crashed into a tree, dying from a concussion almost immediately. The farmer looked at it wide-eyed. It had just come from nowhere and it shocked him greatly. Then, he came to his senses and a wide smile split on his face. Chuckling, he went and picked the rabbit up. It was like God's gift to him! That night, he had a wonderful dinner of rabbit stew.

The next day, instead of going to the field, the farmer went and sat down next to the tree. He thought, "Wonderful! God is going to feed me, so I'll just wait here!" 

He waited and waited, but to no avail. Rabbits really aren't all that dumb, so the farmer went home empty handed. However, his foolish perseverance led him to go wait at the tree the next day. And the day after that.

This continued for months and after several jeers and chastising from his neighbors (and the unavoidable hunger), the farmer reluctantly returned to his fields. Alas! when he got back, the fields were already covered with weeds and couldn't be worked any longer. Without any food, the farmer eventually died from starvation.

[Leaf]

Three Men that cry, "Tiger!"

A long time ago, there was a loyal official working in the emperor's court. The official was going to be sent on an errand for several months and he was afraid that the cunning, corrupted officials would come out to lead the emperor astray, so he asked the emperor, "Your majesty, if someone told you there was a tiger in the city, would you believe them?"

The emperor laughed and said, "Preposterous! Of course I wouldn't!"

"Well, what if two people said that?" The loyal official pressed on.

The emperor then said, "I would start to believe them, but I'd have my doubts."

"What about if three people said that there was a tiger in the city?"

"Then I would definitely believe them." The emperor said confidently. "But, why are you asking me this?"

The loyal official sighed and said, "Your majesty. You know that there could never be a tiger in the city, but you would believe it if only three people told you otherwise. After I leave, there will be tens or hundreds of people who will tell you that I am disloyal. If only three people can persuade you, how will you know true from false when I am gone?"

Surely enough, the official's concerns were not for nothing. After he left, the emperor was bombarded by false lies and when the official returned, he was sentenced to death.

[Leaf]

When the Rabbit Dies, the Hound Follows

More than 2000 years ago, there were two rival kings: the King of Wu and the King of Yue. During a war, the King of Yue was defeated by the King of Wu and was put to shame. The King of Yue held a great grudge and slept on logs and sucked on a pig's gallbladder (which is extremely bitter; used for self torment to push self to persevere or something) in order to never forget about his duty to revenge.

The King had two extremely loyal and clever subordinates: his top general and one of the lords of his court. Together, they came up with seven war plans to take revenge. Ten years after Yue's defeat, they knocked Wu down by a landslide thanks to the two subordinates' contribution.

Right after Yue made it's comeback and the King of Wu committed suicide, the top general resigned and left to wander the world on a boat. Before he left for his journey, he left a letter to the other lord. It said,

"The King has a long neck and his mouth is as sharp as a crow's. People with this kind of look; you can only go through suffering together, but not happiness. We were like his hounds and we hunted the cunning and sly rabbit for him. After the rabbit is caught, the hound is useless and would be cooked alongside the rabbit."

After reading the letter, the lord became paranoid and started making excuses to not appear at court. The King then became suspicious and after being fed false lies, he gave the lord a sword for him to suicide.*

*In ancient China, you could be sentenced to death with dignity. The emperor would basically give you a sword and you would commit suicide. The King of Wu killed his best general this way because of a woman (maybe I'll tell that story later).

[Leaf]

The Stork, Clam, and Fisherman

One sunny day, a clam decided to sunbath. "Ahh... It's so warm..." The clam said, stretching itself open on a rock near the bay. Suddenly, a shadow crossed over the sky and the clam felt a sharp pain, so it closed it's shell fast and hard. It was a stork that had seen the plump meat of the clam and it had dove down to eat it. 

Now, the stork was stuck with the clam clamping down on it's beak and the clam's flesh was being grabbed by the stork.

"Let go!" The stork screeched.

"No way!" The clam retaliated. "Let go of my meat first!"

The stork shook it's head, but the clam stuck fast. "You let go of my beak first!" It cried irritatedly.

The clam frowned and said, "If I do, you'll eat me. It it doesn't rain today, tomorrow, or the day after, you won't have water. Then, you'll be forced to let go!"

The stork rolled it's eyes and flapped it's wings. "I couldn't say it better." It squawked. "If it doesn't rain today, tomorrow, or the day after, then you'll be forced to let go."

Thenceforth, the stork and the clam were trapped in a stalemate and neither were willing to let go first. After a day, both were exhausted and agitated, but didn't want to give up. Just then, a fisherman came walking down the bay. Spotting the clam and stork, he ran over and seized the stork and clam. "Wow! I'm so lucky! I can't believe that I just got myself both a stork and a clam! Tonight's dinner will be a feast!"

And with that, both of the clam and stork's stubbornness led to their downfall in a cooking pot.